Gynecology And Obstetrics-

Nosebleeds during pregnancy

Nosebleeds During Pregnancy - What To Do?

During pregnancy, the hormonal changes lead to numerous physical changes. An increased nosebleed is another common pregnancy problem. In the vast majority of cases, this is completely harmless, even if it may initially cause fear. Even if it often appears as if the blood is dripping from the nose in large quantities, it is usually only a relatively small amount of blood loss.

The hormonal changes during pregnancy cause the connective tissue in the body to loosen up, which includes the connective tissue around the blood vessels.In addition, the blood flow is increased, on the one hand by an increased amount of circulating blood, on the other hand by an increase in the pulse and the expansion of the vessels.

Many venous vessels lie relatively superficially in the nose and can easily be injured in some people by mechanical stimuli with minor injuries, for example by having a strong cold. The increased blood flow during pregnancy also exerts greater pressure on the vessel walls, which means that they tear more quickly and nosebleeds occur more easily.

In addition, the mucous membranes of the nose can swell slightly due to the strong blood flow and the hormonal loosening of the connective tissue. This is often felt to be very uncomfortable, as it can lead to nighttime snoring and nasal breathing is impaired.
That causes the Nasal mucosa especially in winter it dries out due to the reduced humidity. Dry mucous membranes, however, are also more vulnerable and the vessel walls tear more quickly as a result.

This also harbors some approaches for how to prevent nosebleeds well. So it is important to keep the nasal mucosa as moist as possible. Drinking enough water helps to moisten the mucous membranes. You can also prevent it by regularly rubbing the inside of the nose with high-fat, moisturizing nasal ointments, which also keeps the mucous membrane supple. Regular Nasal irrigation with isotonic saline solution or "sea water" are also useful.

You should also be a little more careful when sniffing out. Strong blowing the nose can also cause the vessel wall to burst due to the strong increase in pressure and cause nosebleeds.

What is normal?

Nosebleeds are a common phenomenon and in very few cases is there any serious illness behind them. Even during pregnancy, frequent nosebleeds does not necessarily mean that there is a risk to the health of the pregnant woman or to the unborn child. During pregnancy, the female body is subject to various changes that can be traced back to changes in the hormonal balance and the adaptation of the organism to the care of the child.

The hormone progesterone, which is increasingly formed during pregnancy, and the release of female sex hormones (Estrogens) lead to a Loosening of the connective tissue. The sensitive mucous membranes of the nose are also affected. It is easier for them to tear and bleed. During pregnancy, the volume of blood in the circulatory system also increases.

Slowly, as a result of the adaptation processes, blood pressure rises and the heart rate rises. These factors also increase the likelihood of nosebleeds occurring. Regardless of pregnancy, this is also promoted by factors such as dry heating air. So the nosebleed in pregnancy is quite normal. Occurs frequent, if not daily, nosebleeds Bleeding for several hours and major blood loss on, should be a doctor should be consulted to rule out serious illness.

Pregnancy hypertension

Nosebleeds can also occur when blood pressure is very high. From an upper blood pressure value of 180 mmHg one speaks of a blood pressure derailment. With these high blood pressure levels, nosebleeds may appear as Symptom of circulatory disorder occur. This is usually the case with patients of older age who are under a drug that is difficult to adjust high blood pressure Suffer. High blood pressure that is extremely difficult to treat can also occur during pregnancy.

From a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg, pregnant women speak of a so-called Pregnancy hypertension. In itself, the increased blood pressure is initially not a problem, but it is known that in many cases other symptoms such as increased protein excretion in the urine and Edema formation follow on the extremities. If this condition, also known as preeclampsia in medicine, is not treated, it can result in it Seizures (eclampsia) or to break down maternal red blood cells which can damage the maternal liver (HELLP syndrome) come. If high blood pressure, which in some cases first appears in the form of frequent nosebleeds, is detected in good time, long-term consequences for mother and child can be prevented by taking appropriate measures.

therapy

In the event of bleeding, the Nostrils for about 5 to 10 minutes compressed to exert pressure on the torn area and thus promote wound closure.
Furthermore, the Don't put your head back should be placed so that the blood runs out of the nose and does not flow into the throat. For this reason, you should not lie down if you have a nosebleed.
The blood that would be swallowed in this way causes nausea and there is a risk of choking on blood.

Also a local one cooling Using an ice pack in the neck or sucking an ice cube can often relieve the symptoms, as the cold causes the vessels to contract and thus stop the bleeding.

After the bleeding has settled, you should avoid sniffing your nose for a few hours so that the newly formed scab does not come off again. For this reason, you shouldn't stuff your nostrils with speed tissues or the like, because on the one hand the blood flows into the throat, on the other hand the scab can be loosened again when removing the scab and bleeding can occur again.

However, if the nosebleed is unusually severe or if it lasts longer than 20 minutes, a doctor should be consulted.

If you have recently had very frequent nosebleeds and this was never the case during your pregnancy, it is advisable to have your blood pressure measured or to take it yourself. This should also be addressed during the next gynecological examination. Increased nosebleeds during pregnancy can also be an indication of high blood pressure in pregnancy, which needs to be treated, and there are also many other possible causes of frequent nosebleeds, for example a bleeding disorder is also possible.

Even if frequent nosebleeds during pregnancy may be a nuisance, it is almost always completely harmless, settles quickly and usually ends after the pregnancy as quickly as it happened

prophylaxis

This also harbors some approaches for how to do that Good prevention of nosebleeds can. So it is important to keep the nasal mucosa as moist as possible. Drinking enough water helps to moisten the mucous membranes. You can also prevent it by regularly rubbing the inside of the nose with high-fat, moisturizing nasal ointments, which also keeps the mucous membrane supple. Regular nasal rinsing with isotonic saline solution or "sea water" are also useful.

You can also ensure that the humidity in the house does not become too low, especially in winter, by either setting up a humidifier or simply placing a pot of water on the heater in the bedroom so that the water gradually evaporates .
You should also be a little more careful when sniffing out. Strong blowing the nose can also cause the vessel wall to burst due to the strong increase in pressure and cause nosebleeds.

In order to encourage better breathing at night, it can also be beneficial to sleep with your upper body elevated or, for example, to use so-called nasal alar lifts. These are elastic plaster strips from the pharmacy (or cut to size yourself), which you apply to the nostrils under tension, whereby they are passively pulled apart.